Patents and licensing

Leading in 5G patents

Ericsson is the architect of modern communications, and we have led the development of one, global mobile communications network for everyone and everything to use.

Our world-leading technology is the result of substantial investments of well over $100B in technology research and development over the last three decades. With these investments, Ericsson has been the driving force in the creation and evolution of cellular technology, one generation at a time, for high-performance networks. Ericsson’s technology leadership has resulted in the highest-quality patent portfolio in the industry, with more than 60,000 granted patents worldwide, and the most valuable 5G essential patents.

26700.00

R&D employees and inventors

22.00 %

of global revenue reinvested

$ 100.00 B

in R&D over 30 years

60000.00

granted patents worldwide

Ericsson’s world-class patent licensing program, with several hundred license agreements signed, provides access to our essential technology innovation on reasonable terms. The revenue we generate allows us to re-invest in developing the next generation of technology for the benefit of consumers and society worldwide.

Ericsson’s road to 6G patent leadership

The next generation of cellular technology, 6G, now moves from pre-standardization research to the 3GPP Study Item phase. In this article Christina Petersson, Ericsson Chief IP Officer, looks at groundbreaking innovations anticipated for 6G, and how Ericsson is driving the early development of 6G technologies.

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Patent leadership

Ericsson invests around $5 billion in R&D each year — around $40 billion in the last decade alone. This substantial investment in technology development has resulted in our leading position in 5G patents worldwide.

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Our licensing programs

We have been licensing our patents for more than two decades now. With more than 60,000 granted patents, our patent portfolio covers a large range of different technologies.

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Global standards

Ensuring that there is a global standard is vital when it comes to cellular technology as it means that only the best innovations reach the consumer. The development of mobile and ICT technology is crucial to standardization since it supports innovation and ensures that only the most cutting-edge technology comes to market for all to enjoy.

FRAND

The immense investment made in technology innovation has driven the value we enjoy from our smartphones. Compensating innovative companies through patent royalties and on FRAND terms allows them to reinvest in the next generation of technology, and unlock the most advanced digital experience for all of us. This is central to continuing to incentivize companies to contribute their best engineers’ time and creating standards of the future.

Reform of standard essential patents licensing in the European Union

At Ericsson, we are proud of the long-standing contribution our technologies have made to innovation around the world. Now, a proposed reform of the standard essential patents (SEP) framework in the EU puts the global standardization ecosystem at risk.

Winners of the Inventor of the Year Award

Intellectual property rights are at the center of the technologies that Ericsson develops and licenses, and those technologies would not be possible without our inventors. Get to know Ericsson inventors and researchers, including our Inventor of the Year award winners, to understand how we continue to create the next generation of technology.

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